Most Recent Things to Do in Lake Taupo

Craters of the Moon

This thermal attraction is located fairly close to Taupo. You rock up to the carpark and there's an entrance gate where they're ready to take you money.Once through you walk on well defined tracks, often boardwalks, through a myriad of different pools and steaming vents.All in all I again found it interesting but not overwhelming.We had sort of hoped this would make up for our lack of enthusiasm for Hidden Valley but it was just more of the same and Hidden Valley would definitely be our pick of the two.

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Family Travel

National/State Park

Hiking and Walking

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A stroll in the park

When you've finished your walk along the beach you might chance a venture into the delightful park that sits adjacent to the Information Centre.There's an assortment of flower beds (pic 1), sculptures (2,3,4) including the big trout and there's the Maori gateway that leads to the beach (pic 5).

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Hiking and Walking

National/State Park

Seniors

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Walking the shore

It's a pleasant activity to do on a balmy day. You can watch planes land (pic 2), feed the ducks (pic 3), smell the flowers (pic 4) or see the mountain across the lake (pic 5). All things are calculated to give you a serene feeling as you stroll along the waterfront of New Zealand's largest lake.

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Sailing and Boating

Beaches

Hiking and Walking

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Huka Falls

The Huka Falls is listed as New Zealand’s most visited natural attraction. You can walk there, catch a boat there or, do as I did and view them from the air. They literally thunder over the drop and provide tourists with a photo opportunity they love; I shudder to think how many snaps a day are averaged here. Personally, I like falls in a rainforest but I can't deny the magnetism of this roaring body of water - more than 220,000 litres of water tumbles over the cliff face per second! Set in Wairakei Tourist Park, just a short drive north of Taupo (you could walk it if you're fit), there is an Information Centre located by the falls and several viewing platforms provide excellent vantage points but none like the one I had.

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Family Travel

Sailing and Boating

Hiking and Walking

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Mucking about in boats

Of course, where there's a big lake one is apt to find boats and people mucking about in same. The marina at Taupo is tucked around a corner and not immediately visible on your entry to the town on the main road. Better to go for a walk and discover it as we did (pic 5).There's certainly a variety here, from cruisers to yachts, but I couldn't help but wonder if any have ever come loose from their moorings and drifted off down the Waikato River to Huka Falls, which isn't that far away. Now there would be something to see. The Waikato is, incidentally, the only river draining the lake, though several feed into it, particularly from the snow clad mountains in the distance.Boating is generally a summer activity, a view reinforced by the number we saw on the waters during our stay. If you haven't got your own you can hire one.......if you have the money of course.

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Sailing and Boating

Hiking and Walking

Luxury Travel

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Horsing around

Couldn't resist the horse (pic 2) but, after I'd fed him one bit of grass, he could certainly resist me. Walked off in a huff. There you go, rejected again.Still, that left me with the wonderful scenery to look at and none is more dramatic than Castle Rock. We had just visited Tirau and were on our way home via the scenic route, somewhere on the back roads near Arohena when we came across the area I shot these photos in.It makes for a lovely day out and the rewards of exploring are manifold.

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Road Trip

Seniors

Horse Riding

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Walk to Huka Falls

A forty-five minute one-way walk from Taupo will bring you to New Zealand’s most powerful waterfall, Huka Falls. The falls are impressive in their own way, and this is a pleasant walk that is worth doing if you end up spending any considerable time in Taupo.

Go Gliding above the lake

The best way to view Lake Taupo and get an idea as to its size is to see it from the air. Most travelers opt for the hair-raising adrenalin rush of jumping out of an aeroplane and are usually too scared to take in the view on the brief hurtle towards the earth. For a more leisurley option why not go for a flight in a sail-plane and enjoy the sounds of the wind rushing by whilst seated upright in a sturdy airframe! You will also get around 30 mins of either watching the scenery, or testing your ability to stay aloft with the elements. A far better (and cheaper) option. The members at Taupo club are a friendly bunch and everyone works together to ensure that you have a memorable experience. The other bonus of this experience is that you get to meet normal people going about their usual lives and get out of the "tourist rat-race" where you are constantly being enticed to part with your cash.They will pick you up from your hostel / hotel if you book in advance!

Rates valid from the October 1st, 2006 to September 30th, 2007 is NZD$89.00 for adult and NZD$49 for child 15 years and under. If I'm not mistaken... The time I went on Huka Jet (tat was in Dec. 2004) was only NZD$75 for adult.

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Adventure Travel

Family Travel

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Bungy Jump!!!

Located in the stunning volcanic Waikato River Valley, Taupo Bungy is considered one of the world’s most spectacular bungy sites. It's a must try activity when you're in Taupo. U can even jump free if you jump naked!!! =P

Taupo Bungy is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Too bad i went there on Christmas... Else I might have tried it.

The jump costs NZD$99 for a solo jump and NZD$198 for a tandem bungy jump.

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Bungy Jumping

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Take A Walk.

Lake Taupo is a very picturesque place that is bumbling with locals and tourists alike all year round.

For the keen anglers, you can go fly fishing for Rainbow Trout which was introduced from California in 1883 and Brown Trout from Scotland that came via Tasmania in 1867. There are many tours available on the many lakes at Taupo.

Approx. 1 hours drive away, are New Zealands largest Ski areas, Whakapapa Ski Field, located at Mt Ruapehu and Tukino Ski Field which is a club operated ski field that is open to the public but offers a combination of adventure and lack of crowds.

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Hiking and Walking

Skiing and Boarding

Fishing

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Practice Your Swing !

Catch some sun and practice your swing on the lake front 'Hole in One Driving Range'. The goal is to hit the golf over the water, onto the island and make a hole in one. No Mulligans allowed here, you miss-you lose. And if you want to try again, you'll have to use another ball. Pretty tough goal, I wonder how many people actually ever get a hole in one.More importantly, I wonder how often the lake gets dredged to collect all those missed shots!

Lake Taupo Map

Experience Lake Taupo

Top Lake Taupo Writers

I had looked at the maps and had a vision. I had this vision of a snow clad mountain reflected in the water. It would be a photographer's dream. I also realised that said mountain was a long way away,...

Taupo (the town) rests at the northern end of Lake Taupo for which it is named. The lake is in fact a volcanic crater and the result of several volcanic eruptions many years ago. The area is a hot bed...